Spraying system



feb. 15, i l. V, ZECK 2,462,034

SPRAYING sYsT'EM Filed Aug. 17, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 1 l ,111111111l11111111/,11114111111lllllllzlllllrzllllzllqM IN VEN TOR.

H5 ATTOM/'EY Feb. 15, 1949. l. v. ZECK 2,462,034

SPRAYING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 17, 1945 4 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zi/an M Zee/i INVENTOR.

Q. I v HIS ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 15, 1949 SPRAYING SYSTEM Ivan Vance Zeck, Iowa Park, Tex., assignor to Lee Lavexe Thompson, Iowa Park, Tex.

Application August 17, 1945, Serial No. 610,971

8 Claims.` (Cl. 259-95) This application is a continuation-impart, of my abandoned application, Serial No. 507,991, filed October 28, 1943.

This invention relates to an improvement in spraying systems, particularly of the character used for spraying an insecticide on growing plants.

In using an insecticide, it is necessary to mix the insecticide powder constituting a poison in Water to form a solution, and to keep it well mixed continuously during application of the solution to the plants under treatment. Where the spraying action involves large elds, this may require a considerable period of time to cover the entire area, during which the powder may settle out of the water if there is no adequate means of maintaining the powder in solution.

The object of this invention is. to improve the construction of the spraying system to provide for 'the maintenance of solution throughout the period when the insecticide is being applied to the plants.

A further object of the invention is to simplify and limprove the construction of the spraying system so that it is not complex and expensive to manufacture, may be mounted and operated conveniently on a tractor from the power plant thereof and Without the necessity for enlarged and complex structure.

I have provided a tank adapted to be mounted on the vehicle to contain the insecticide in solu tion. Provision is made in the tank for withdrawing the solution therefrom and directing the same to sprays under pressure, and also for keeping the insecticide in solution by creating surges in or agitation of the liquid in the tank. This is accomplished by the pumping of the solution from the tank and returning a portion thereof to jets in the tank under suiiicient pressure to cause a circulation of the Yliquid in the bottom portion of the tank. Provision is made also for cleaning out the jet structure in the event of settling of the powder after a period of inactivity.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a partial diagrammatic View in side elevation showing the application of the spraying The invention is shown as mountedl on a tractor designated generally by the numeral I and which in'cludesthe usual power plant supported by a frame 2 `on front and rear wheels 3 and 4.

The spraying system includes a tank 5 preferably mounted on the chassis frame 2, such as at the rear end thereof, and which tank is adapted to contain the desired quantity of liquid. A filling opening in thetop of the tank is provided Wi-th a closure 6. The tank may be -provided also with the usual fittings such as a pressure gauge I and escape valve 8.

Extending from the tank 5 is a suction line 9,

. shown as connected with an end of the tank near the bottom thereof. The suction pipe 9 extends to a pump I0, shown as mounted on the frame 2 of the tractor and adapted to be driven by means of a pulley I I from the ypower plant of the tractor. The discharge side of the pump li! is connected with a pipe I2 provided with a pressure gauge I3 which pipe is extended at I2 and connected with a spray head lli having spray nozzles I5 thereon. A control valve I6 is provided in the pipe I2', so as to regulate the quantity of liquid directed to vthe spray nozzles. The spraying head I4 is shown as extending transversely under the chassis frame 2, although its position will defpend upon the size and type oi plants to which the insecticide is to be applied, and where large plants are being treated, the spraying head should be raised to a higher position so las to be mounted out of contact with the plants. This may be accomplished more readily by forming the pipe I2' of a flexible hose and mounting the head I4 at the desired elevation on the tractor frame.

Extending longitudinally of the tank 5 near the bottom thereof is a mixer tube l'I mounted in a tting I8 in one head end of the tank. The mixer tube Il has lateral perforations I9, shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4, and are directed laterally into tubular sleeves 20 which form mixing jets. The tubular jets 20 are secured on the Outside of the tube II as by welding thereto, so arranged as to direct the discharges from the orices i9 through the tubularjets and laterally of the tank, in different directions and having beveled ends forming openings toward the tube Il, and therefore act as Venturi tubes or jets to create a turbulence or circulatory agitation in the bottom portion of the tank as liquid is forced under pressure from the mixer tube il, through the orifices I9 and the tubular jets Zii. By reason of the beveled end on the tubular jet, the solution in the bottom of the tank is recirculated by the suction created therein by the stream of liquid passing from the hole i9 to the tubular .iet 20.

Since the insecticide powder will settle to the bottom of the liquid when the spraying system is not in use, provision is made for cleaning out the orifices i9 and any accumulation of powder that may settle in the tube l?. This is accomplished by a piston 2i mounted in the tube il' and preferably having circumferential notches therein at 22. The piston 2i is mounted on a rod 23 extending through a stufng box 2l?. at the outer end of the tube il and provided with a handle 25.

The mixer tube il is connected at one side with a T 26, which in turn is connected through a pipe 21 with the pipe l2, whereby fluid from the pipe l2 will be by-passed to the mixer tube il.

Also mounted in the tank is an auxiliary mixer tube 28 having lateral perforations or jets 29 therein. The tube 2t is spaced above the tube Il and mounted in a fitting 3S in the end Wall of a tank. The outer end of the tube 28 is connected with the T 2t to receive a portion of the by-passed uid therefrom. An automatic relief valve 3l is connected with the tube 28 to regulate the portion of uid admitted thereto.

When a pressure is developed by the pump Ill which is in excess of the Volume which the sprays l5 and jets 2e will handle, the relief valve 3l Will open and direct a portion of the fluid through pipe Z8 and out through the orifices 29 to cause an auxiliary mixing action of the fluid within the tank, whereby a substantially uniform constant pressure is maintained on the pipe l2 and spray nozzles i5.

The operation of the spraying system will be evident from Fig. 2 where the flow of the liquid is indicated by the arrows. rIhe tank 5 should be lled to the desired extent with the insecticide solution. Usually this is water into which the required amount of powder is mixed, after which the cosure cap S is replaced.

The solution is withdrawn from the tank 5 upon the operation of' the pump lil through the suction pipe E, and is forced under pressure through the pipes i 2 and iii' to the spraying head I4 where it is discharged from the nozzles l5. The quantity of fluid forced through the pipe l2 may be regulated by the valve i6, so as to return or Icy-pass a portion of the pumped fluid through the pipe 2l and T t to the mixer tubes I1 and 23.

rlhe tank may be lled to any desired level and with the automatic relief control valve 3| set at a desired pressure, and with the control valves i6 regulated to give the desired volume to the spray nozzles l5, the liquid pumped in excess of the amount discharged by spray nozzles l5 either will be by-passed through the lateral openings i9 and through Venturi jets Ztl or, if the pressure builds up in excess of the set pressure of the automatic relief control valve 3i, a portion of the liquid will be discharged into the pipe 28 and out through orifices 29 to create an auxiliary mixing action in the tank 5.

The by-pass fluid will be directed laterally at the jets` 2l), 255, where it will create a turbulence or-circulatoly agitation in the liquid in the tank, circulating it suiciently under agitation to cause and, maintain a thorough mixing of the insecticide powder with the water. tinues throughout the period when the spray solution is being discharged at the jets l5 on theV plants, so that a thorough mixing of the solution.

Lil

. lateral opening for receiving uid therethrough This action conwill be maintained during the spraying operation.

After the spraying system has remained static for a period of time and it is desired to start the operation, the accumulated powder should be removed rom the mixer tube l1. This may be done by reciprocating the piston 2| back and forth lengthwise of the tube, thus loosening up any powder that may have caked on the walls of the tube and forcing it out through the orifices i9. Then upon the operation of the spraying system, this powder will be mixed thoroughly with the water in solution.

I claim:

l. In an insecticide spraying system, the combination of a mixing receptacle adapted to contain a spray solution, a pump, pipe connections between the pump and the receptacle to withdraw the solution from the receptacle and to direct said Withdrawn solution under pressure from said pump, and horizontally arranged mixer tubes mounted in the receptacle at different elevations therein and connected with the pipe connection from the for directing the solution back into the receptacle to agitate the solution therein, mixing Venturi jets carried by the mixer tubes and in positions to receive the solution therefrom, and a valve for controlling the flow of the solution to at least one of the mixer tubes.

2. In an insecticide spraying system, the combination of a receptacle adapted to contain a spray solution, elongated mixer tubes mounted in the receptacle at respectively different eleva-v tions therein and elongated lengthwise of the receptacle, each of said tubes having discharge mixing Venturi jets spaced along the length thereof, said tubes being adapted to receive a liquid and to discharge said liquid at the jets for agitating the spray solution at respectively different elevations.

3. In a receptacle adapted to contain an insecticide spray solution, an elongated mixer tube having longitudinally spaced orifices in the side thereof for discharge of the solution therefrom, and jet members fixed to the tube externally thereof and projecting radially therefrom, each of said jet members having an end portion in registry with one of the orifices and having a with a portion thereof spaced from the side ot" the tube to admit the solution in the tank in injector relation with the spray solution discharged through the orifice and jet member for creating a surging action in the tank.

5. In a receptacle adapted to contain a spray solution, an elongated mixer tube having longitudinally spaced orifices in the side thereof for discharge of the solution therefrom, and jet members fixed to the tube externally thereof, each of said jet members projecting radially from the tube and each having a beveled end portion overlapping one of said orices in close proximity thereto and at an acute angle thereto 1n posi-4 tion to receive the discharge therefrom and to direct said discharge laterally of the tank creating a surging action in the tank.

6. A mixer pipe for an insecticide spray solution comprising an elongated tube having spaced orifices in the side thereof, and jet members xed to the outside of the tube, each of said jetmembers projecting radially from the tube and having an open end adjacent the open side of the orifice in position to receive the discharge therefrom and to direct said discharge laterally therefrom, said jet member having a lateral opening adjacent the orice.

7. A mixer pipe for an insecticide spray solution comprising a tube having an orice in a side thereof, and a jet member having a beveled end xed at one side to the tube on one side of the orifice and having the opposite side of said end 'spaced from the periphery of the tube for admitting fluid through said space in injector relation with the solution discharged through the orice and jet member.

8. In a receptacle adapted to contain an insecticide spray solution, an elongated mixer tube mounted in the receptacle and having longitudinally spaced discharge orifices in the side thereof, a piston mounted in the tube and comprising REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 519,978 Thies May 15, 1894 592,000 Curtis Oct. 19, 1897 782,680 Millspaugh Feb. 14, 1905 803,090 Bradford Oct. 31, 1905 1,180,807 Vedder Apr. 25, 1916 1,229,644 Nesmith June 12, 1917 1,580,476 Fassio Apr. 13, 1926 1,587,583 Garland June 8, 1926 1,972,001 Witham et al. Aug. 28, 1934 2,013,370 Tygard Sept. 3, 1935 2,022,481 Shellenger Nov. 26, 1935 2,350,715 Berg et al June 6, 1944 

